Buttons* said:
Some of the best questions from my dearest Halcyon: (hope he doesnt mind me re-posting them... again)
1. Why do you believe that the texts chosen to be in the new testament were/are the most reliable?
2. Why do you believe St. Paul's account of Jesus's form and teachings even though they never met and Paul only ever saw Jesus in a dream?
3. Which is the most accurate of the four gospels, since each gives a contradictory account of events?
4. Why do you believe Jesus was the son of God, or God himself - even though Jesus never, ever said anything like that?
5. If the Bible is the word of God, why does it contradict itself and give various accounts of events?
6. If there is only one God, why is He a jealous God - what could He possible be jealous of?
7. Jesus's bloodline is traced back to King David - through Joseph, yet by your account Jesus was not the son of Joseph. Explain?
8. Jesus rose from the grave and lived amongst his disciples for 40 days before ascending, why isn't there any record outside the bible of the walking corpse of a notorius executed criminal?
1. You must look at the date they were written, the four gospels we have were written within the First and Second Century. And all were written by Someone who knew Jesus, or knew someone who knew Jesus. We must also see if they are psuedo(flase). Many try to fit "Christians people" to their culture. They create their own version of things and put a Apostles' or Disciple's name on it(i.e, Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Mary, Gospel of Phillip, Acts of Thomas, Gospel of Judas). The Books selected were seen to be inspired and in no way contradict each other while yet they support Each Other.
2.Paul did not see Jesus in a Dream, he was awake, and others heard them too.
Acts 9:
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him,
Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said,
I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him,
Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
Others heard Jesus, Paul was not dreaming. Keep in mind Paul was with the Pharasees. He Knew the Old Testament REAL WELL. better than any of the first Apostles, since he had this understanding he could teach in more diffrent way than the others, he reached more. I Belvie Paul's Teachings because why would a man who hated Christians die for the very religion if he didn't see Jesus? He was put in Jail,Stoned, Boiled in Oil, yet he faught for God and was finally Crucifeid.
The Early Church looked onto all that Paul wrote as Holy Scripture.
3. They do not Give a Contradictory account of Events. Keep in mind Matthew and John actually walked with Jesus. While Luke and Mark did not. John Mark was a Follower of Paul. Luke was a Follower of both Paul and Peter and used their Memory of Jesus to write the Gospel. I myself lean more on the Gospel of JOhn, it is a Personal account of Jesus' Goodnews.
Think about this, a man goes to town. 3 men go with him. Each write a story about why he went to town. ONe says he picked up a rock on the way. the others dont mention it. Another says he talked to a lady once he got to the town. The others dont mention it cuase they dont see it as imporant. The Third says he rested for two hours along the road. the others dont say so...This is what the Gospels are. Each writer has a diffrent interpretation, a diffrent reason for writing, they do nto contradict but give diffrent forms of information, diffrent times, diffrent reasons.
4.Jesus said this. John 10:36-
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Now what did the Jews say before this... John 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Jesus said he was the Son of God, yet the Jews took it as if he was trying to be God. The reason they did this becuase they understood that the Messiah was to be God in the Flesh.
Mt 1:23 - Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is,
God with us.
Col 2:9 - For in him(Jesus) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Isa 9:6 - For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The Messiah will be called Everlasting Father, He will be Called Mighty God. For sake of amount of words i will move on.See-
Isa 12:2 -
Behold, God is
my salvation; I will trust, and not
be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is
my strength and
my song; he also is
become
my salvation.
Genesis tells us God created the heavens and the Earth.
John 1:1-10, and 1 Cor 1:16 reveals to us Jesus created all things, think about this.
5. The Bible is not the "word of God", Jesus is the Word of God, now if u want to understand the phrase, what God Speaks is his word. And this word is written which is the Holy Scripture, which is now the Bible. The Bible does not Contradict, you must understand the Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew words to know this. There are no Contradictions in the Bible. Which is the Spoken word of God.
6.there is only one True God. But read Below.
1 Corinthains 8:
5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
There is only one true God, but there are many that call themselves god. You can even make yourself a "god." that is why God is ealous he will not have his worship given to anyone who is not God.
Isa 42:8 - I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will
not give to another, Nor My praise
to carved images. These Images can be your god, that is why God can be jealous.
7. Jesus was born through the line of David, yes? There are two diffrent geaneologies though.Matthew gives the one Through Mary, Luke gives the one through Joseph. Jospeh was his Earthly father but not his actual Father. The Holy Spirit itself cuased Mary to become Pregnant, Leterally God placed himself within Mary, and was born. So Through Mary Jesus was actually a son of David. And Through David his Earthly Father, he was Spiritually given by the law, a son of Daivd also.
8. Jesus was not notorius. Also know Jesus did not walk Openly, He only appeared to about 532 of his own Disciples. That is why others dont write of him, they did not see him. Jesus only showed himself to a certain few, and they testified of this.
Jesus was not a wlaking corspe, he was not the walking dead, He was alive. dont get it confused.